zai6 gai1滯雞滞鸡
Jyutpingzai6 gai1
Yalejaih gāi
Definition
Slow, obtuse, or clumsy in movement or mind.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who reacts slowly or lacks mental agility, often implying a sense of frustration from the speaker. It carries a slightly derogatory tone, suggesting the person is not just slow but also a bit dim-witted or unobservant. It is frequently used in workplace or social contexts when someone fails to pick up on obvious cues or instructions.
Examples
He is so slow, he doesn't understand no matter how much you explain.
Don't be so slow at work, can you be a bit sharper?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 滯, which refers to feeling bloated after eating. While both share the character 滯, the compound 滯雞 is specifically used to describe a person's mental state or reaction speed.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
